As soon as I finished my first playthrough I was loading the game back up to start a second run through so I could understand more about what I experienced the first time round and cleverly, the game’s New Game Plus mode acknowledges choices you’ve previously made and characters also have a sense of déjà vu and the paranormal beings will mess and taunt the characters even more – which I thought was a really neat addition!Īccompanying the engrossing story is a soundtrack that is something truly special. It is testament to how great the storytelling is in this game that you will want to play through multiple times to discover the different possibilities and get a fuller understanding of what is going on in Oxenfree‘s story. The decisions and responses that you choose influence how the rest of the game will play out, meaning that there are many narrative paths for you to see and a variety of different endings that can be achieved.
The conversations flow freely between all of the characters in the game and you are given multiple choices over which response you want Alex to join in with. The gameplay in Oxenfree will be instantly recognisable to anyone who has played either a point and click adventure or a Telltale game before.
decide to investigate. After accidentally unleashing a paranormal force on the island, the group must figure out what the force is and how to stop it. There is an urban myth about the island that is discussed, whereby that if you tune a radio into certain frequencies whilst on the island you will hear ghostly messages – and so Alex and co. As expected from a group of teenagers travelling to a remote beach, the itinerary involves hanging out, playing truth or dare and drinking beer. The game starts on a ferry, and playing as blue-haired teenager Alex, you discuss with your friends what lies ahead when you arrive at Edwards Island.
The game, a supernatural, kinda scary story about a group of teenagers who uncover something mysterious and ancient on a remote island, has the tropes of many horror films – but replaces the clichés with a clever tale about relationships and growing up that is certain to leave a lasting impression on those that experience this title. It took Night School Studio’s Oxenfree a matter of minutes to have me hooked.